"Working for the People"

Jobs and Economy

The attack on labor in Michigan has to stop. Without highly skilled, educated employees who are paid a working wage, we will continue to see limited investment by business and industry to create economic growth in our state. Worker security in both public and private sector jobs in Michigan is falling rapidly, and our ability to compete globally with other states who have higher numbers of educated and trained workforce employees shows.

First and foremost, Michigan needs to make significant structural changes to it’s tax system. State Treasury has estimated that Michigan will give out $2 billion in corporate business tax credits in 2016- more revenue than we took in from them. That leaves small businesses and individuals paying higher taxes for adequate police, fire, schools and public services… or going without many of those services.

With Michigan’s Corporate taxes contributing less than 3% of Michigan’s total tax revenue, we need to look at which tax incentives are contributing to keeping high paying, skilled labor jobs here and which ones are nothing more than a tax handout to corporations that can and should pay.

While Michigan became a Right To Work state, Minnesota did not. Strong leaders in legislative roles are key to making sure government, industry, investors and labor come together to form mutually beneficial agreements. Higher wages help increase consumer spending and investment in a state’s economy.